Both characters are part of the LGBT community, Lee being a lesbian and Jack a gay man. The two of them form a strong, familial-like bond, complete with banter and serious arguments, but built on a foundation of deep understanding of one another. Grant) becomes her accomplice, assisting in the selling of forged letters and taking a cut of the profit. In a desperate attempt to turn her life around, Lee takes up forgery as a source of income. That evening, Lee spends her night at home, talking to her cat while watching a movie before dusting dead flies off her pillowcase before laying down to sleep. A supervisor sees and promptly fires her. One day, while drinking at her day job, Lee snaps at a coworker. For her, a typical day looks pretty dismal. The film follows Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), a failing writer struggling with depression and alcoholism. Marielle Heller’s film Can You Ever Forgive Me? based on Lee Israel’s memoir, illustrates the power of chosen family while sharing the unusual story of her life of forgery. Chosen family served as support for the survivors of the AIDS crisis who didn’t receive the same acceptance from their biological families due to their sexuality.

Many leaned on what remained of their chosen family.

The people they leaned on, organised with and built relationships with were suddenly gone. Those who survived were understandably distraught. The AIDS epidemic of the previous decade left many ill or deceased. In 1991, the LGBTQ community in New York City was largely in a state of depression. He responds, “Who would I tell? All my friends are dead.”

0 #DBW The Power of Chosen Family in ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’.

Lee israel can you forgive me